Orange Beach Area Insight

Southern Grind is a wonderful coffee shop located at The Wharf! I absolutely love the beachy feel when you walk inside and see the turquoise color and decor. Their staff is always ready to serve you with a smile! I personally love their nitro cold brew and market salad. I could eat that salad every single day if I chose to! They also have really yummy Gelato. You'll just have to see for yourself!

The Orange Beach Public Library offers fun for all ages! They have a children's part of the library that's lined with amazing books and a space with tables to read, write, draw, etc. If you check out their calendar on their website, you will see they offer study groups, book clubs and other fun things to be a part of! If you're an adult, don't worry... they've got you covered too! The library has chess club, tech classes, trivia night and much more! If you want to get involved with the Orange Beach Community, this is the place!

Big Fish is one of my favorite restaurants in Orange Beach, hands down. Their menu is fantastic and they offer amazing happy hour specials from 3:00-6:00 p.m.! One of my favorite items on the menu is their Lobster roll. The atmosphere is always so welcoming and the staff is very friendly! It's a great place for lunch or to meet your friends for dinner! If it's warm outside, check out their back patio. I love eating out there!

Ginny Lane Bar & Grill is one of my favorite places to eat in Orange Beach! This restaurant is located at The Wharf. Their menu is phenomenal, with their shrimp and grits being on the "Top 100 Things to Eat in Alabama Before You Die." Enjoy a penny cocktail on their patio overlooking the beautiful canal or sit inside and enjoy the band. They always have wonderful specials to offer and they even plan wine and beer dinners paired with their food! If you stop by, you are in for a treat.

This view has my heart! Many years ago when I was very young I worked as a server at the first restaurant "Spanky's" ever opened at this location. It is now the beautiful Playa at Sportsman Marina, an amazing dining spot with panoramic water views and a coastal atmosphere. Whether you are with a group, family or flying solo, the friendly staff will make you feel at home.

Orange Beach has the best fire and police departments! The 2018 Annual City Awards were announced at the November Community Potluck Dinner held at the Orange Beach Community Center. Firefighter of the year was awarded to Battalion Chief Jeff Smith. Police Officer of the year was awarded to Sgt. Jeremy Mote. The Orange Beach Police Employee of the Year went to Tom Conerly, the Animal Control Officer. No matter where you live don't forget to thank your police and firefighters.

The Orange Beach Recreation Center is definitely a place you want to check out! They have a gymnasium, game room, "hang out" room for the kids to do their homework, outdoor pools and a 24 hour fitness center. I have been going there since I was in Orange Beach Elementary School. I absolutely love everything they have to offer. They have great membership prices if you are an Orange Beach resident.

Orange Beach has a great variety of condos to fit every need. Beach front or an indirect view can be chosen. Enjoy relaxing by the pool or the beach. Some have an exercise room for the die hard fitness visitor. Plenty of restaurants and shops!

The beautiful beaches keep people coming back year after year. It's family oriented offering an environment to relax and make memories! If you haven't visited Orange Beach, I highly recommend you come and see the greatness here. Paradise!

The Wharf offers concerts which are amazing! Miranda Lambert and Little Big Town concert was one of the best concerts I've ever attended. We are so blessed to have this venue that provides such great entertainment. Arrive early and sit down to a wonderful dinner at one of the many restaurants before the concert. Shopping is abundant there also. If you want a night to relax, The Wharf is the place to be!

The Wolf Bay Osprey nest in Orange Beach is still very active. From their live cam you can usually watch the Osprey come and go while viewing the waters of Wolf Bay, but this year an Owl took over the nest. This has provided a unique look in to the development of baby Owls. You can see an Osprey on the Tacky Jack's nest cam. Wolf Bay is great for boating, fishing and swimming.

The Osprey have hatched! You can watch the Tacky Jacks Osprey nest on their live Cam! These beautiful "sea hawks" usually return to the same nest every year to lay their eggs. Watching them can be addictive but very interesting.

Casa del Marina is a boater’s dream in Orange Beach. The two story, forty-two unit complex is loaded with amenities, including 341 feet of canal frontage, 23 first come, first served boat slips, a boat launch, temporary trailer storage, a fish cleaning station, and an outdoor pool with gazebo. Located on Marina Road, Casa del Marina is within walking distance of several restaurants, and only minutes from shopping, entertainment, and the beautiful Alabama beaches.

Iconic Marina Road in Orange Beach has something for everyone. Custom homes of every size and description line the peaceful street, many with stunning water views. Marina Road dead ends at Boggy Point Landing and the Orange Beach Boat Ramp, within sight of Robinson Island. The original Tacky Jack’s and the Sassy Bass Caribbean Grille offer fine dining within walking distance of most homes. Orange Beach Marina is a sport fisherman’s dream, and the home of several deep-sea fishing tournaments. The Intercoastal Canal and the Gulf of Mexico are minutes away.

I am learning my way around the Gulf Coast. Orange Beach is very family oriented. I enjoy showing condos in the area. I love to walk along the white beaches and feel the ocean breeze. If you are looking, Orange Beach is worthy of your time!

Looking for something unique to do while visiting the Orange Beach area? Check out the Clay Studio at The Coastal Arts Center at 26389 Canal Road. The Studio is open from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. and offers regularly scheduled classes and events. The Studio also offers private parties and group discounts! Take a look at their Facebook page for some incredible works of art from their class and party participants. Talk about a unique beach souvenir! For more information, call the Clay Studio at 251.981.ARTS, email at artcenter@gmail.com or browse their website at www.orangebeachartcenter.com.

Snowbird Fest is a true festival event, trade show, expo and car show all packed into one! Snowbirds get free entertainment, as well as an opportunity to meet local area businesses to find lodging, get samples of their services and often delectable samples from local area restaurants as well. 2018 Snowbird Fest is excited to announce musical tributes to the hilarious Lucille Ball and Johnny Cash! Additionally, there will be a car show, comedy acts, and of course, local restaurant food samplings, healthcare screenings, information and giveaways from area businesses, such as vacation rental companies, restaurants, golf courses, casinos, shops, hotels, retail shops, local attractions, and more. Good Time Tours will be busing snowbirds in from Ft. Walton Beach, Destin and Pensacola, all entirely free for snowbirds!! Be sure to sign up here to reserve your spot.

The Snowbird Fest will be held on Saturday, January 27th from 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

There are many reasons why Orange Beach and Gulf Shores are great destinations for a winter vacation. Some of the obvious are less crowded beaches, golf courses are open, and great shopping. My favorite reason is that Oysters are in season! I love the Grilled Oysters from Villaggio and Ginny Lanes at the Wharf... Yum Yum.

It’s a rare day when cold weather and gale-force winds make the busiest boat launch on the island look like a ghost town. Boggy Point boat launch in Orange Beach is easily one of the most popular boat ramps available to the public. Located at the end of Marina Road, it has two docks, two wide ramps, and paved parking designated specifically for boat trailers. Don’t have a boat? It’s still worth a visit to see its beautiful view of Robinsons Island and Perdido Pass.

Love to kayak? Then Orange Beach is the destination for you! Canoeing and kayaking are an excellent way to enjoy the local waters, explore the back bays, and get some great exercise. Orange Beach hosts an enviable canoe and kayak trail by providing ten different launches. Paddlers are treated to waterfront restaurants, frolicking dolphins, and breathtaking sunsets along the approximately fifteen miles of coastline. Be sure to grab your paddle and come check it out!

Alabama has been blessed with sixty miles of sugar-sand beaches along the Gulf of Mexico. Condos and beach houses line the shore, but at the Gulf State Park, the beaches are pristine and undeveloped. Here you’ll find the entrance to magical Romar Beach. Located 6.6 miles east of Hwy 59, and 1.3 miles west of Alabama 161, this beautiful beach is the perfect place for family outings. Sand dunes and sea oats were replenished after Hurricane Ivan, and the result is simply stunning. Enjoy a beautiful sunrise or sunset here, or spend the day enjoying the warm, turquoise water and soft, white sand. The parking lot is paved and there are restrooms for public use. So, bring your towel and give Romar Beach a try. You won’t be sorry!

Orange Beach's beautiful white sand draws thousands of visitors every year. And when you visit you can enjoy great cuisine in the many fabulous restaurants. Other attractions include charter fishing, diving, shopping and the new OWA Amusement Park is just minutes away on the Beach Express in Foley.

While fishing, your goal is to catch as many fish as you can within the legal limits. Even though Dolphin Cruises are an entity in themselves, fishing with dolphins is not what one wants to do. They are beautiful marine mammals that many people enjoy watching and learning about but while fishing, they are a nuisance. I appreciate being able to fish in their homes and being so close to the coast line is something that I definitely do not take for granted.

Having a relaxing day on the balcony and what a great treat to have the Blue Angels and Thunderbirds appear unexpectedly. This is just one of the many reasons to visit Alabama’s Gulf Coast. Orange Beach visitors and residents are so lucky to be able to watch the training exercises of this elite squadron. Hope everyone has a chance to visit our area and enjoy this experience.

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Orange Beach, AL

Southern Grind

Southern Grind is a wonderful coffee shop located at The Wharf! I absolutely love the beachy feel when you walk inside and see the turquoise color and decor. Their staff is always ready to serve you with a smile! I personally love their nitro cold brew and market salad. I could eat that salad every single day if I chose to! They also have really yummy Gelato. You'll just have to see for yourself!